“Hello Ian, I have a personal matter to discuss with you. Do you want Colton to stay or would you prefer it to be private?”
Ian looked at his mate who shrugged his shoulders. Not wanting to keep any secrets from his mate, he said, “Colton will stay,” and leaned against his mate’s side.
“All right. Let’s begin. Ian, I know you think you are a Gamma wolf…”
“I don’t think it…I know it. My parents told me.”
“Yes, I understand. But they did it as a means of protection. You are one of the last Scottish Wolves on earth…the other two being your parents. They fled Scotland during the time of shifter persecution which resulted in the deaths of all who stayed. This was a difficult decision for your parents since their Scottish roots go back at least a thousand years. Their emotional and familial ties ran deep and the love they had for Scotland was unconditional.”
“So why did they leave? Mind you, I’m grateful they did, but still, it must’ve broken their hearts to do so.”
“Yes, it did. But it was because of you…and what you are…”
“What do you mean, ‘what I am’?”
“When you were born, a great celebration occurred throughout Scotland. Your birth was the first time a rare type of Scottish wolf had been born in over 700 years. The Shamans considered it a sign both from the gods and the Fates that Scottish Wolf shifters would survive. Butwithin a few years of your birth, humans started a war against the wolf shifters, calling for their complete annihilation. At first, your parents believed other humans would stop the few who started the killings, but as more believers joined in and their hatred grew stronger, your parents smuggled you out of the country, making their way to the forests of the Scandinavian Mountains. There you grew up, knowing nothing of the hatred and persecution your people experienced.”
Stunned, Ian was numb.How come my parents never told me this? I know nothing of my roots or my heritage. Why did they keep it a secret from me?
Colton felt his mate’s turmoil so he lifted him and placed him on his lap. “Babe, are you all right? Do you want to end this and go to our room?” he whispered in Ian’s ear.
Ian shook his head, eager to hear the rest of what Oracle had to tell him. “Let her finish first.”
Colton nodded and Oracle continued, “A witch cast a spell on you to hide what you really were. The spell could only be broken if you were claimed by a fated mate.”
“What spell? Colton has claimed me, so is the spell gone?”
“The spell has not yet been broken…that only occurs when a full claiming takes place. I believe Colton has not yet done that, am I correct?”
“Yes. But what am I? Tell me, please.” Ian was quite agitated now thinking his mate would reject him once Oracle told them.Shit, maybe Colton shouldn’t hear this. No, he needs to know. God, I’m an asshole for thinking I would hide something from my mate.Ian decided to get it over with because he couldn’t handle any more tension right now. Looking at Oracle, he asked, “Please Oracle, just tell me.”
She nodded. “You are a male Omega Scottish Wolf…very rare and very valuable. Your parents knew you would be targeted by many evil paranormals who would seek to obtain you by any means. The spell hides your true nature and has kept you safe all these years.”
No fucking way! No sir! I’m not an Omega! Shit does that mean I can get pregnant? Nonononono…not going to happen! I won’t be able to practice medicine anymore. I can’t give that up. It’s who I am. Oh Shit! What about my mate…does he want pups? Who’ll take care of them if we’re both working?
Ian started to shake. It was too much. Everything! His wolf couldn’t process all of it…his mate in danger…his mate near death...biting and claiming his mate. And now…he can have pups? Too much…too soon…Ian fainted in his mate’s arms overcome with the emotional turmoil and discovery of who he was.
Colton quickly laid his mate on the loveseat and examined him. Ian had only fainted and, while he would eventually come to, his wolf was having none of that. Turning to Oracle, Colton asked, “Do you have any smelling salts in your bathroom?”
“I think so,” Oracle said, hurrying from the room.
“And get me a cool, wet washcloth, please?” Colton yelled, as he raised Ian’s legs up higher than his heart and loosened his sweatpants, hoping to restore blood to his mate’s brain. He could see his mate’s eyes fluttering as Oracle returned to the room with smelling salts and a cool wet cloth. He placed the cloth on Ian’s forehead, hoping his mate would open his eyes soon as he knew the salts could affect Ian’s ability to smell.
Sighing in relief as Ian showed signs of stirring, Colton wasn’t taking any more chances. Turning to Oracle, he asked, “Can we continue this conversation tomorrow?My mate is exhausted and needs sleep…plus I’m sure he’ll have questions after he thinks about what you told him.”
“I think that is a good idea. Do you need any help? I can call Maximus.”
Colton swooped Ian into his arms. “No thanks, but please open the door for me.” He cradled his mate and hurried out of the room. They needed some private time to sleep and talk about everything—not about his power—but certainly Ian’s Omega wolf status. Once in their bedroom, Colton sat him on their bed and removed Ian’s t-shirt and sweatpants before pushing his mate flat on his back. Colton quickly stripped and climbed in to join Ian, spooning against him. Then he pulled a blanket over them and wrapped his arms around his mate, holding him while softly crooning a tuneless melody into his mate’s ear.
Ian, still woozy from fainting, felt secure lying next to Colton. It was a day he never wanted to live again. He searched for his wolf, thankful he was curled up asleep and wouldn’t be fighting Ian tonight about their mate. He knew his cup had runneth over and there was nothing left in him.Gods, I’m so mixed up.He wanted to forget what he learned from Oracle—at least for now. He knew they’d have to talk tomorrow but tonight Ian was happy to be in Colton’s arms. As his tumultuous thoughts calmed, his eyes closed.
Colton knew exactly when his mate fell asleep; he could finally relax. His thoughts turned to the events of the day and foremost in his mind was the power he received from Archangel Raphael. If Oracle was correct, and he had no reason to doubt her, he’d be able to heal anyone—no matter how close to death they were.But do I want that kind of power?Colton knew he’d never abuse it but hecouldn’t shake the feeling he now walked in the gods’ footsteps.Why me? What about me made me worthy of this gift? Raphael told me both the gods and the Fates had agreed. Should I question their decision? I wish I could talk to Jackson or Cody about this, but no can do. Jackson would freak out about it, I just know it. And what about my mate? Oh fuck, that’s a whole different can of worms.
Colton felt the restlessness of his wolf—caused more by his keeping a secret than by not completing the claiming. His wolf wanted their mate to know everything but how could Colton agree? His mate was facing a complete upheaval of his life.A male Omega wolf. My mate is a rare male Omega wolf! I never ever thought my mate would be one. Crap, I kinda thought they were a myth. But oh no, not only did I get a godly ability but now I have to worry about protecting my rare mate…I am so fucked!
It was just as tumultuous a day for Colton as it was for his mate and he, too, was exhausted. He buried his nose in his mate’s hair, seeking out the delicious scents of lavender, cedar and orange—so calming. Part of Ian’s scent reminded him of his mother and he knew that Ian was his home, the center of his universe and the keeper of his soul. Chuckling faintly, so as not to wake Ian, he scoffed at his earlier decision never to have a mate.How foolish I was.He slowly found peace and as Ian’s scent swirled around him, he joined his mate in slumber.
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